Bad Brat-No Cookie

Anyone know what happened with this one? I was the PO, and yes it had it's issues... just reliving old memories... and have many fond ones of the Brat...

So there I am tooling home tonight, and all the sudden I hear POP-kling-kling-kling while shifting, and notice most of my clutch feel is gone... But the clutch still works ok, get home to find out the end of my hill holder cable that attaches to the clutch arm is GONE... Any one know where I can find one for an '85 brat?? Other than the cable the hill holder works great, I use it all the time, but not now:mad:

I had this issue about 2 yrs ago on my 85 DR 4spd BRAT, got a generic pack of nylon windshield wiper bushings from NAPA, had 8 or 10 total bushings in it and voila... 2 of them fit perfect, I removed all the old material from the metal bushing on the trans, inserted one of the bushings after slight cutting of the 2 tabs on either side (was solid white) and pushed it all the way down into the recess on the trans. Then I drilled a hole (1/8 inch i believe, a little smaller than the end of the shift rod) in the second solid white bushing, removd all old material from the end of the shifter rod and forced the drilled out bushing over the rod end so the bushing was centered on the hourglass shapped portion of the shiftrod. then after cutting the same 2 tabs (or are they ears..oh well) I forced teh second bushing into the same recess and have had a firm shifter ever since... Oh yeah I did the slot-drill-bolt deal at the same time... 85 Brat............FREE New bushings.... $5 New Bolt.......... $2 New Clutch.......$160 85000 milles in 2 years.... BUNCH of gas LOOKS from SUV drivers spinning out in snow while I tool by in my POS subaru..............PRICELESS

Sounds better than a head gasket....I wil stop off and pick some up on the way home tomorrow and take a shot at it...

My 85 Brat suprised me yesterday, after being parked for a few months (waiting on time and energy for new front halfshafts) and when I tried to crank the engine, No turn Over. Pull Plugs, BOTH drivers side plugs were wet with weaker than in radiator antifreeze Turn over motor squirting antifreeze in cylinders onto side of house Re-install all 4 plugs and voila engine cranks over (And starts) Smoked for as while but when smoke subsided and engine was warm noticed no other adverse side effects, No bubbles in the radiator, no more smoke from the tail pipe, and temp ran normal for a quick run to the gas station to fill up. Now my question is.... What would cause the cylinders to completely fill with antifreeze, but not show as bubbles in the radiator (Head gasket or cracked head) or continue to burn anti freeze. I comute 85 miles each way and will be using the Brat again as the wifes chrysl** ************box decided it didn't like having a functioning computer any more, But that is a post for a different board.. I will continue to monitor for smoke in the exhaust and the coolant levels, But I am glad to have the BRAT back..

I am the proud owner of a brat and would definately rather drive the tribeca than most of the other new POC on the road today, unless someone wants to let me take a cruise in their new SALEEN?? Anyone??? Please???

I am with capri, personaly I hate gas stations, so when the tank gets low I go and trade it in and the dealership always gives me a full tank...But maybee I should cut back to when they need the oil changed because that just takes too long to get done... I personaly would like to thank Capri for making it so easy to find 6 to 7 year old cars cheaply that have DECADES of use left in them... PROUD owner of a 21 year old BRAT that has cost me a whopping $400 to drive over the last 6 months...

At 65 I get 31ish MPG, at 70 I get 26ish, at 75 I am down to 21ish, and over 80 it goes down exponentially, I drive 75 or so miles each way to work in my 85 brat, and have been monitoring my gas mileage religiously for the last 3 weeks with gas prices the way they are... I have put 1776 miles on the brat as of 5am this morning since 8-31-05... and averaged 26.64 MPG over that mileage... for me 65=3100RPM, 70=3500RPM,75=3900RPM, and so on...

Here is a thread on it... http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=38359&highlight=sloppy+shifter Hope it helps, Have you checked the clutch cable yet?? And what about that fluid...should be new too as it should be changed when the clutch is done...New fluid will help the sincros spin better as they are hydraulically driven by the tranny fluid...

Mine used to do the same thing, but I have a 85 brat with 84 spec drivetrain... How "new" is your clutch, and are you sure if it is brand new you got the right one, I went 4 places and through 3 clutch kits before I found the right one, did a full fluid changeout (make sure you get the right fluid as they are now making limited slip compliant and non-compliant fluid) I used the non-compliant and for 5000 miles at 200 per day I have been fine... I have heard horror stories about using LSD fluid in NON-LSD equiped cars and non-LSD fluid in LSD cars, usualy resulting in damage, also what condition is your shifter linkage in? I re-built mine when I did the clutch and the fluid and have been changing gears like silk since... I know I seem like I am rambling but I wanted to chip in my .02 or so...

Drop it off after the Y pipe, or for you out there in TV land extend the exhaust all the way to behind the doors (requirement for inspection here) Punch out the first half of your CatConverter Single bafle straight pipes off your heads... All the above will make you sound like the BOMB....... I have Y-pipe--->punched cat---->2" pipe---->stock mufler---->every tom d@#! and harry looking at me as I shoot past them on the highway doing 80 in my 85 brat.. And I like the sound.. not too loud but loud enough to scare someone who isn't expecting the backfire at the punced cat....

I have a cup holder mounted into my 85 brat, you know one of the generic ones from any parts place, it is mounted to the center console on the passenger side using one of the trim screws located there, makes my 75+ miles each way daily commute a little more tollerant.... Not a verry good fix but it has been working for me for the last 6 months or so.... I will try to get some pics tomorrow and if I manage to get them I will try to post them for all to view...

Thanks all the other good ones were already taken.... and bad cop no doughnut just didn't seem to work...

Would you believe, 2 brats (184, 185, both T-tops, both w/bed covers and complete jump seats) AND 2 engines... this could all be yours if the price is right... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-Brat-1984-1985-Subaru-Brats-4X4_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6467QQitemZ4573999885QQrdZ1

Are you 100% sure you used the correct mix of coolant/water, wrong mix = wrong cooling characteristics... I am kinda new to the sube world (had my 85 brat for 2 months already) but I am trying to learn all the nuances of the monster but I had a 302 equipped ford that a previous owner was running straight coolant in that ran super hot until I drained and re-serviced with 50/50 mix.